Michael Jackson's 300m Memorial Museum

Plans for a $300 million museum complex to commemorate the life of Michael Jackson have been put forward by his father Joe and officials from his hometown of Gary, Indiana.

Michael Jackson's father is opening a $300 million museum dedicated to his son.

Joe Jackson- is moving ahead with proposals to build a museum, performing arts centre, concert hall and possibly a hotel and casino in Gary, Indiana, the hometown of the late singer, who died of acute Propofol intoxication last June.

Speaking as it was announced a study is to be undertaken into the feasibility of the scheme, Joe said: "This is a happy day for me because this is something that my family and Michael have always wanted.

"We're bringing something back."

Gary Mayor Rudy Clay explained the city would donate 300 acres of land to the project - which he added could create "thousands" of jobs - while the rest of the funding for the complex will come from investors and donations from the general public.

IT is hoped the project would attract 750,000 visitors each year - and as much as $150m in annual revenue.

Similar ideas have been suggested in California - where the 'Thriller' hitmaker spent much of his life - but Joe stated his son would have wanted his principal memorial to be in his hometown.

Meanwhile, Ian Halperin - the writer of Jackson's biography 'Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson' - is now working on a tribute documentary entitled 'Gone Too Soon', which is expected to cover the star's personal life in a "balanced tribute".